Chapter 1
Chapter One
NADINE
It’s been months since I was first locked up in this condo—months of these bare walls that surround me.
Months of staring at the door and waiting for Grayson or Vaughn to waltz through, them being the only human interaction I’ve had.
It was relaxing at first, exciting even, if I’m being brutally honest.
Especially when Grayson brought his bag over and placed it in the master bedroom the first night.
That didn’t last, though.
Once I told him just a tidbit of my background, he didn’t set foot in the master again.
Pushing all hopes about a future with Grayson behind me, I was able to kind of enjoy my time in the safe house.
I’ve never been able to hide out before.
I’ve always had to look over my shoulder, and I know that being here at this condo, there is no better place for me, even if at this point, I’m bored to tears.
I’m standing on the balcony looking down at the street, wondering how many seconds it would take for me to reach the sidewalk and if I would splatter into a million pieces.
I feel not only alone but lonely .
I’ve been alone a lot in my life, starting from a young age, but I’ve never felt lonely like this.
It’s all-consuming.
Grayson made me think that we were going to be more.
That we could have more when I was first brought here.
He demanded that I tell him everything about my past, about Landon Tate.
And I did.
Then he didn’t want me anymore.
In fact, he had a bed ordered for the guest room and slept there after the first night on the sofa.
That’s how much he doesn’t want me.
He made it perfectly clear without having to say a word.
He attempted to spare my feelings, except it did nothing of the sort, and I still stare at him with butterflies in my belly.
Knowing the intimate truths about someone’s past isn’t always the best thing if you’re attracted to them.
Sometimes, I think people need to keep their own secrets.
And now that I know the reaction to my secrets, I’ll be keeping them tucked inside for the rest of my life.
“You gonna jump?” a deep voice asks.
I recognize the voice instantly, but it’s not the one I want to hear.
The one I want comes from a man who stands about six feet two, has arms like cannons, no tattoos, and a smile that melts panties when he turns it on.
In all fairness, his scowl melts my panties, too, though.
“No,” I lie.
He snorts.
“Liar. You thought about it.”
“I did,” I confess before I continue, not looking behind me but staring straight ahead.
“He’s out there watching me, isn’t he?”
Vaughn hums.
“He is.”
A chill slides down my spine at that thought, and not in a good way.
Sometimes, I hate how honest these men are.
I’ve known them for five years, and they’re unwavering.
They are the exact same today as they were when I walked into that office all those years ago, my fake resume in hand.
They’re brutally honest, stoic, and intimidating.
All six of them.
None of that has waned, except a little of the intimidation part by a few of them.
Granted, I haven’t had as much interaction with some of them as I have with Theron, Grayson, and now Vaughn.
“You’ll be bait,” he states.
Spinning around quickly, I tilt my head back slightly as I look up into his eyes.
His dark gaze finds mine, his face expressionless as he watches me, waiting for my response.
I don’t say a word, though, not while what he’s just said plays on repeat in my head.
Over and over.
Bait .
Bait .
Bait .
“How?” I finally ask.
He shrugs a shoulder.
“Time to move back home, honey.”
Home.
The thought of returning to my apartment makes me instantly want to beg to stay here.
It doesn’t feel like a home.
It’s a place I’ve been living for the past few years, but I don’t think I know what a home feels like.
I’ve never had one.
I wish I could keep my boredom, because being back there, at that apartment, means Landon is coming for me.
Bait or not, I’m not sure that when he does catch me, Securus can protect me.
I open my mouth to protest, but he holds up his hand, his palm facing me, effectively shutting me up.
Snapping my lips together, I tilt my head to the side, impatiently waiting for him to finish, even though I want to ask a million questions.
“Grayson is there getting your security system up and running. We wouldn’t leave you completely exposed. Someone will be with you always, but in the shadows. You’re going to appear alone. There is no way this guy is going to come out and show himself if he doesn’t think he can get to you.”
“And you want him gone,” I whisper.
Vaughn hums.
“For your sake, yeah, we want him gone.”
Those words cause my chest to warm.
For my sake .
They don’t just want him gone.
They want him gone for my sake.
That’s a beautiful sentiment.
You know, if it were true.
I’m under no impression that it is, though.
They don’t want the government on their backs, and I don’t blame them.
Landon is a loose cannon.
He is willing to plant something, create something, or lie about something in order to get his way.
And what he wants as his way is me—he wants me back.
If he finds the opportunity, he is bound to seize it, and he won’t care about anyone else as collateral damage.
“You won’t be able to stop him from getting what he wants,” I say.
Vaughn snorts.
“Bet. That man is getting nothing that he wants. In fact, by the time we’re done with him, he’ll be begging us to leave him alone. Begging .”
“Vaughn. I’m not worth any of this,” I murmur.
“I promise you I’m not.”
He doesn’t move any closer to me, but his gaze is transfixed on mine as he holds me hostage.
I can’t even breathe as I stare at him, watching him and waiting for him to say something—anything.
“I don’t know what happened between you and that asshole, but you’re worth a hell of a lot more than this, Nadine. Because what this is, is easy. This is fun compared to other shit we have to shovel. Especially to some people.”
I really hope that those people include Grayson, but I don’t ask him.
Instead, my cheeks heat, and I lift my hands to them, trying to cool them off, because I have no doubt that they’re turning red.
“You’re part of the family now, Nadine. Before Lucille and Colette, you were the only woman in our lives. It’s our duty to protect you, and had you told us earlier what the fuck was going on, we would have started all of this a hell of a lot sooner. Now pack your shit up, you’re going home.”
Without another word, he turns from me and stomps away.
I’m not sure if he’s angry with me or not.
Instead of asking, I watch as he closes the balcony door behind him.
I don’t go and pack my shit, though, at least not immediately.
Instead, I turn back around to face the street and look around the city of Nights, NC.
I chose this place because it was close to my brother, but I stayed because of the men of Securus.
They needed me, maybe even more than I needed them at the time.
I can’t let anything happen to them.
Maybe becoming bait is the best thing I can do.
Whatever is going to happen, it needs to just go ahead and happen so that all these men can get back to their lives.
They don’t need to worry about me and my problems with Landon.
They need to move forward and find their happiness, because they all deserve it.
My mistakes and bad decisions keep coming back to bite me in the ass—to haunt me.
Honestly, I should just try to disappear again.
It would make everything much easier and safer for everyone involved, including Securus and my brother at the Night Devils.
GRAYSON
Nadine’s apartment is fully monitored by me.
Theron reluctantly allowed me to take over this part of the plan.
He’s in charge of the rest.
As much as I hate the fact that Nadine is about to become bait to her husband, I don’t have a choice.
It’s out of my control.
I hate to admit that anything is out of my control.
Control is something that none of us gives up easily, especially now that we are all men who are capable of directing our own lives.
Still, I’m going to focus on Nadine and keeping her safe, which is the only thing I can control in this situation.
So, control, I will.
Although, I can’t deny that the thought of controlling Nadine makes my cock twitch.
We’ve been dancing around one another for over a year, but I haven’t made a move yet.
I thought once we were in a forced proximity situation, it would be easy.
But then she told me about her past, and I knew I couldn’t do what I wanted to her.
I want to fuck her, brutally, but I know that Theron will be pissed if I screw it up—if I screw her up…
or over.
He loves her and says she’s the best secretary he’s ever had.
I understand why she’s so damn good at her job now.
The girl is not only a hacker, but we also discovered who her brother is.
She knows what not to see and doesn’t get nosy or squeamish at what she does witness.
I’m not sure how much longer I can stay away from her.
I can’t even count how many times I’ve almost caved, standing outside of her bedroom door, wanting nothing more than to burst inside and take what’s mine.
Because she is mine.
I notice the way she looks at me when she thinks I’m not paying attention.
Pretending I don’t see her is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and it’s to keep from pouncing on her.
Now that I am going to have full access to her apartment alone, without Vaughn being able to just walk right in at any given moment, I’m not sure I’ll be able to do it.
Since she’s been in the safe house, it’s been somewhat easy because Vaughn has had twenty-four-seven access.
Not that I would have given a fuck, but I’m pretty sure that Nadine would have.
She doesn’t seem the voyeuristic type.
She turns red when I look at her fully clothed.
I can’t imagine what she would do if someone else walked in on me fucking her.
Before leaving her apartment, I check my app to make sure that everything is turned on and ready to catch any nearby motion.
We’re golden.
As much as I want to go back to the safe house, I don’t.
At least not yet.
Vaughn is going to keep an eye on her until she’s ready, then send me a text to come and pick her up.
I packed up my shit from the safe house last night after Nadine went to her room and loaded it up in my car before I left this morning.
But I need to do a clothing switch and get some new shit from my closet into rotation.
My apartment is only a few blocks from Nadine’s.
I climb up the staircase, something that I tend to do unless it’s a high-rise.
Mainly because I don’t want to be locked into that fucking cage with no way to get out.
When I reach my floor, I open the door and step into the hallway.
Turning my head, I see Prez from the Night Devils MC standing next to my door.
Well, leaning against the wall beside my door.
Nadine’s brother.
Fuck.
“To what do I owe the goddamn pleasure?”